Nottingham Forest – Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s team will not lose in Nottingham

All English clubs that began their journey in the Europa League and the Conference League have reached the semifinals of those tournaments. However such 'unanimity' among Premier League clubs should not confuse football laypeople. In the Champions League Round of 16 this season, six English clubs also progressed, while only two advanced to the quarterfinals. Moreover, almost all four that were eliminated did so with disgrace. England will lose one representative before the final in the Europa League, where the bracket has brought both Premier League clubs into the same semifinal pair: Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. The current season has proven equally difficult for the 'Forests' and the 'Villains', but they are pursuing identical goals only in the Europa League. In the national championship these clubs have found themselves on opposite ends of the table. Nottingham Forest is not without success in trying to stay in England's top division, postponing more ambitious goals for future seasons. Aston Villa is pursuing a much more promising task of breaking into the Champions League and is on the verge of achieving success. Under any circumstances, opponents will put maximum effort to repeat last year's Tottenham triumph and win the continent's second-most prestigious tournament. Bookmakers have set the home side as favorites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.49 on their victory. Nottingham Forest in the last two rounds of the Premier League crushed Burnley and Sunderland, scoring nine goals in total. Such a breakthrough by Victor Pereira's side allowed them to pull away from relegation-threatened Tottenham by five points. Given the seriousness of the contenders, even such a gap with four rounds to go to the season's end does not guarantee Nottingham Forest a successful fight for survival, but will certainly reduce the pressure on Nottingham Forest's coach this season and his regular players. Aston Villa had more opportunities to prepare for the upcoming away trip, as the team had practically resolved the issue of finishing in the Champions League zone of the English championship. A defeat to Fulham may indicate only a shift in Unai Emery's priorities in favor of the upcoming trip to Nottingham. The visitors will secure a favorable result on Nottingham Forest's pitch.